CA to exercise caution over Cummins

Giving a hint that teenage pace sensation, Patrick Cummins is not going to be considered for the Ashes, the NSP headed by John Inverarity has decided to exercise caution with regard to the injured pacer.

Cummins burst into the international scene during the 2nd Test against South Africa at Johannesburg in November 2011. His 6/79 in the 2nd innings of the Test match helped Australia secure a series leveling victory. He has since then not worn the baggy green owning to a succession of injuries.

The latest problem, a strain on his upper back, sustained during the T20 Champions League held in South Africa last October has kept him out from any form of the game and his return looks a long way away.

With John Inverarity claiming that selection of the squad for the first set of Ashes matches to be held in England is at an 'advanced stage', Cummins can only hope for tide to turn in his favour as he prepares for the return leg of the Ashes which is scheduled to start in November.

"We thought we took our best squad to India, the Ashes squad is likely to be similar to that. There'll be a couple of changes," Inverarity told reporters in Perth. This list has a broader view because it takes in T20s and one-dayers as well."

England and Australia are playing back-to-back series with a view of avoiding its position just before the marquee World Cup event.

"He's tracking well, the one thing we're certainly not going to do is rush him," Inverarity told reporters in Perth on Wednesday.

"He's working on three fronts. Firstly, he's working on rehabilitating his back injury and the second thing is he's doing a lot of strength and conditioning and fitness work. The third thing, which he's doing a lot of work with Dennis Lillee on, is remodeling his action because his action had a lot of twists and turns in it."

Seen as a bright emerging prospect, Cummins was fast-tracked into the national team and was also one of the youngest player to be offered a central contract in June 2011, just three months after he made his FC debut. "He's a question mark in terms of when we bring him back," Inverarity added. "When he comes through, we want him to come through without any further mishap."

On Wednesday, Cummins was named in the 20 man contract list for the 2013-14 season, a sign of the faith placed on him by Cricket Australia.